Talking SF until everyone’s eyes glaze over

[eroticstoryspinner]

The Mote in Gods Eye - that’d be amazing if it was done well
A remake of Starship Troopers, the way Heinlein wrote it.
The John Ringo zombie series - that’d be just outstandingly orgasmically cool
C J Cherryh’s “Downbelow Station”

All good choices. I know Ringo's PA and he sort of knows me to the extent that he knows that I am a volunteer for LC and says hello when i run into him. The last I heard there is TV network interested in buying the rights to Black Tide Rising. Not that that means anything but a nice check for right now.

BTR is probably the best shot for a TV series/movie makeup is about the only special effect

 

[ElectricBlue]

I guess the most obvious answer would be 2001:A Space Odyssey, one of the most critically acclaimed film adaptations of a science fiction novel ever made. I first saw it when I was fairly young, not having read the novel, and I had no idea what the ending was about.

The film wasn't an adaption of the novel. The screenplay was a collaboration between Kubrick and Clarke, initiated by Kubrick, who wanted to make the definitive science fiction movie. The idea of an alien warning device on the moon was taken from one of Clarke's short stories (The Sentinel), which he offered up as the starting point (Kubrick purchased the film flights to that short story, I think).

The Clarke novel was derived from the jointly written screenplay, and because Kubrick controlled everything, Clarke wasn't able to publish the book until after the movie was released. The novel is a useful way of navigating what was going on, plot wise, and is fairly typical Clarke, grandiose but a little dry.

HAL is an extension of Kubrick's fascination with technology getting out of control, and has more in common with the crazies in Doctor Strangelove than anything else. The visual scope was predominantly Kubrick and Douglas Trumball, with advisory input from NASA. It was released in April 1968, before the moon landing. I've lost count how many times I've seen it, most recently the fiftieth anniversary version, mastered from the original negative.

 

[SimonDoom]

The film wasn't an adaption of the novel. The screenplay was a collaboration between Kubrick and Clarke, initiated by Kubrick, who wanted to make the definitive science fiction movie. The idea of an alien warning device on the moon was taken from one of Clarke's short stories (The Sentinel), which he offered up as the starting point (Kubrick purchased the film flights to that short story, I think).

The Clarke novel was derived from the jointly written screenplay, and because Kubrick controlled everything, Clarke wasn't able to publish the book until after the movie was released. The novel is a useful way of navigating what was going on, plot wise, and is fairly typical Clarke, grandiose but a little dry.

HAL is an extension of Kubrick's fascination with technology getting out of control, and has more in common with the crazies in Doctor Strangelove than anything else. The visual scope was predominantly Kubrick and Douglas Trumball, with advisory input from NASA. It was released in April 1968, before the moon landing. I've lost count how many times I've seen it, most recently the fiftieth anniversary version, mastered from the original negative.

I didn't know that history. Very interesting.

Back to square one: best film adaptation of a sci fi novel. I have to think about that.

 

[NoJo]

Even Gibson in his 80s books Neuromancer didn't foresee cell phones.

I'm currently watching a 1968 episode of Star Trek where William Shatner is using one. It's a flip-phone, and a little bulky. He calls it a communikedder.

 

[NoJo]

I didn't know that history. Very interesting.

Back to square one: best film adaptation of a sci fi novel. I have to think about that.

That's an easy on easy for me, if you include short stories - Total Recall, the 1990 version. By "best", I mean favourite.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Oh yes. I remember a Heinlein story where they do the math for starships with slide rules and I had to ask my Dad what they were. He laughed.

There's a Clarke short story (Into the Comet, now I google it) where the spaceship's guidance computer conks out and the crew save themselves by reviving the abacus.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm currently watching a 1968 episode of Star Trek where William Shatner is using one. It's a flip-phone, and a little bulky. He calls it a communikedder.

Good point!

 

[beachbum1958]

I didn't know that history. Very interesting.

Back to square one: best film adaptation of a sci fi novel. I have to think about that.

I don't know if it's the best, but it's the one I'll watch every time. In 1952, John W. Campbell published 'Who Goes There?', the source-book for 'The Thing From Another World', subsequently remade by John Carpenter as 'The Thing' and the prequel. I found it when I was maybe 12 in a sci-fi omnibus edited by Damon Knight I picked up in a charity store, as a sci-fi story it rocked my mind, and as a horror story it creeped me out big time, reading as I was at the time a succession of rockets and rayguns novels like the 'Lensman' series, the 'Mars' stories of Leigh Brackett, and the Hawkmoon/Elric/Corum fantasy series' of Michael Moorcock

 

[ChloeTzang]

That's an easy on easy for me, if you include short stories - Total Recall, the 1990 version. By "best", I mean favourite.

I liked Total Recall. Ok, the old 1982 Bladerunner movie was really good too. But that old Dune movie with the fat kid as Maud’dib was just pitiful. The later one with Sting was waaaaay better.

And wasn’t some of the first Star Wars ripped from a Japanese anime movie which was based on EE Doc Smiths Lensmen. I saw the jap movie at a film festival when I was at college but I was a little bit hammered and I don’t remember that much about it.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Back to square one: best film adaptation of a sci fi novel. I have to think about that.

Best in 'most literal'? Or 'most watchable'?

For the former, I'd pick the 1960 "Time Machine" movie. That's pretty close to the book, if I remember my H.G. Wells. It's a bit fuzzy, i must have been 12, 13, when I last read it.

Most watchable? I'll take many '80s movies. "The Running Man", "Blade Runner", "Dune". They may not the the closest to the source material, but they strike a great balance between special effects and actual storytelling. Most modern movies are so obsessed with their shiny VFX that plot, pacing and story suffer greatly. I mean, I have seen "Gravity", and although the tricks were amazing, you could write the story onto a piece of Wasa and have room to spare. Only exception (and actually an adaptation) would be "Edge of Tomorrow". That one was fucking awesome all around

 

[SimonDoom]

Best in 'most literal'? Or 'most watchable'?

For the former, I'd pick the 1960 "Time Machine" movie. That's pretty close to the book, if I remember my H.G. Wells. It's a bit fuzzy, i must have been 12, 13, when I last read it.

Most watchable? I'll take many '80s movies. "The Running Man", "Blade Runner", "Dune". They may not the the closest to the source material, but they strike a great balance between special effects and actual storytelling. Most modern movies are so obsessed with their shiny VFX that plot, pacing and story suffer greatly. I mean, I have seen "Gravity", and although the tricks were amazing, you could write the story onto a piece of Wasa and have room to spare. Only exception (and actually an adaptation) would be "Edge of Tomorrow". That one was fucking awesome all around

All good choices, except the 1980s Dune. I disliked that movie intensely. I thought David Lynch was not the right sort of director for that movie. All those cheesy glowing blue eyes -- bad effects.

Edge of Tomorrow was a surprisingly good sci fi movie. Built on a cool idea. And I find it hard to dislike a movie with Emily Blunt in it.

 

[Hypoxia]

I’d argue that Asimov’s stories aroused interest, but his enormous output of articles explaining scientific topics at an approachable level did far more to spread understanding of and enthusiasm for science. My high school and college libraries had literally dozens of collections of his nonfiction works...

Dead on! (I.e. strong agreement.) Ike put science on paperback sales racks and student shelves, easy. Changed many mindsets, sure. But I fear Szilard and The Bomb had more lasting impact.

Pournelle, and RAH before him Incorporated cell phone/PDA devices in several stories. You tend to see that in stores written late 50s on when integrated circuits were developed. I tend to agree with you about Gibson.

I recall landlines on Luna in MOON/MISTRESS and thru the US in OATH OF FEALTY. And IMHO Vernon Vinge trumps Gibson with TRUE NAMES and much more.

I'm currently watching a 1968 episode of Star Trek where William Shatner is using one. It's a flip-phone, and a little bulky. He calls it a communikedder.

Trek designers gave us flipfones, tablets, touchscreens, handheld sensors, vocal AI -- but the cast uniforms stank pretty awful, they say.

 

[Blind_Justice]

All good choices, except the 1980s Dune. I disliked that movie intensely. I thought David Lynch was not the right sort of director for that movie. All those cheesy glowing blue eyes -- bad effects.

Edge of Tomorrow was a surprisingly good sci fi movie. Built on a cool idea. And I find it hard to dislike a movie with Emily Blunt in it.

Let's agree to disagree on "Dune". Maybe I'm wearing rose-tinted glasses, but I love the visual design of the movie, especially the biomech components of House Harkonnen. And if nothing else, the movie looks absolutely unique. To which I should add that I haven't seen much of Lynch's other work. He was the "Twin Peaks" guy, right?

 

[eroticstoryspinner]

Dead on! (I.e. strong agreement.) Ike put science on paperback sales racks and student shelves, easy. Changed many mindsets, sure. But I fear Szilard and The Bomb had more lasting impact.

I recall landlines on Luna in MOON/MISTRESS and thru the US in OATH OF FEALTY. And IMHO Vernon Vinge trumps Gibson with TRUE NAMES and much more.

Trek designers gave us flipfones, tablets, touchscreens, handheld sensors, vocal AI -- but the cast uniforms stank pretty awful, they say.

True but in Beyond this Horizon, The Puppet maters, and I think some of his juveniles RAH describes handheld phones

 

[PrincepsCyberius]

The only way to get Heinlein's babies is to...

1. go back in time and seduce him.
2. hope his wife had some of his sperm frozen at his time of death.

Sci-fi enough for you?

Im writing the story now! Lol.

Inspired, perhaps, by Heinlein's own "All You Zombies"?

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't know if it's the best, but it's the one I'll watch every time. In 1952, John W. Campbell published 'Who Goes There?', the source-book for 'The Thing From Another World', subsequently remade by John Carpenter as 'The Thing' and the prequel. I found it when I was maybe 12 in a sci-fi omnibus edited by Damon Knight I picked up in a charity store, as a sci-fi story it rocked my mind, and as a horror story it creeped me out big time, reading as I was at the time a succession of rockets and rayguns novels like the 'Lensman' series, the 'Mars' stories of Leigh Brackett, and the Hawkmoon/Elric/Corum fantasy series' of Michael Moorcock

We think alike. I cited that one in my post above. I think I'm somewhat older than you, and I grew up hearing my dad talk about how scary the 1950s "The Thing" was. It was a good sci fi thriller for its time, but the 1982 version with Kurt Russell was much truer to the source material, and was very creepy. The special effects don't quite hold up now because those were the days before CGI, but they were great for their time.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Inspired, perhaps, by Heinlein's own "All You Zombies"?

Speaking of film versions, the recent adaptation of that ("Predestination") was excellent.

 

[SimonDoom]

Let's agree to disagree on "Dune". Maybe I'm wearing rose-tinted glasses, but I love the visual design of the movie, especially the biomech components of House Harkonnen. And if nothing else, the movie looks absolutely unique. To which I should add that I haven't seen much of Lynch's other work. He was the "Twin Peaks" guy, right?

Yes. Blue Velvet is probably is most iconic movie. His movies are not for everyone, but they're always interesting.

I loved the book Dune but I thought it would be very difficult to turn into a movie. I didn't like Lynch's interpretation when I saw it. It seemed too over the top perverse and weird to me, and I couldn't buy Kyle McLachlan (a Lynch favorite) as Paul. But different strokes . . .

 

[ChloeTzang]

True but in Beyond this Horizon, The Puppet maters, and I think some of his juveniles RAH describes handheld phones

Which reminds me of “The Puppet Masters” movie. That was okay and it stayed pretty true to the book.

 

[ChloeTzang]

Yes. Blue Velvet is probably is most iconic movie. His movies are not for everyone, but they're always interesting.

I loved the book Dune but I thought it would be very difficult to turn into a movie. I didn't like Lynch's interpretation when I saw it. It seemed too over the top perverse and weird to me, and I couldn't buy Kyle McLachlan (a Lynch favorite) as Paul. But different strokes . . .

I hated the Lynch movie. The fat kid was appalling casting as Maud’dib and just ruined the movie for me. The Harrison mini-series was sooooo much better. There’s a new film adaptation coming in 2020.

 

[Javahead]

Pournelle, and RAH before him Incorporated cell phone/PDA devices in several stories. You tend to see that in stores written late 50s on when integrated circuits were developed. I tend to agree with you about Gibson.

I remember boggling at the intro scene in Between Planets, where the hero had a phone built into his horse’s saddle, and took a call while riding. Routine today, but pretty prescient for something written in the 1950s. As described, about equivalent to actually late 80s or early 90s technology.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Speaking of film versions, the recent adaptation of that ("Predestination") was excellent.

Indeed it was.

 

[Javahead]

I love Startide Rising. His other books not so much.

Now who else is a Tom Kratman fan? The Carreraverse!

And the Man-Kzin Wars universe. I love dem puddy-tats. Eeeeek

And the Draka. The most dystopian series ever.....

Kratman’s OK.

I like the earlier Known Space stories more than the Man-Kzin wars period - Gil the Arm, or Ringworld, anyone?

S M Stirling’s very good. The Draka were a far too plausible nightmare - even his horror series that starts with A Taint in the Blood was less horrifying. Good books, but brrr. I like his Nantucket books or Emberverse series more. Conquistador was great, and The Peshawar Rifles - both stand-alone. His Lords of Creation duology did Burroughs’ Mars and Venus books, better. Really enjoying his current Black Chamber alt-history series, too. Yes, I’m a bit of a fan.

 

[Hypoxia]

Inspired, perhaps, by Heinlein's own "All You Zombies"?

An examplar, impossible to top IMHO. Narrator is their own father, mother, child, rapist, recruiter, savior, enabler -- in only a few pages. Masterwork.

Totally other, vastly underrated: Vonda McIntyre, DREAMSNAKE.

As for phones: car-portable telephones existed in the 1930s -- think Radio Patrol cop cars. Saddle-portable or somewhat smaller but still-bulky gear could easily inhabit Golden Age literature along with super-science earclips or implants. But again, writers a half-century back, projecting a century ahead, saw landlines. Well, I've got mine!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

An examplar, impossible to top IMHO. Narrator is their own father, mother, child, rapist, recruiter, savior, enabler -- in only a few pages. Masterwork.

Totally other, vastly underrated: Vonda McIntyre, DREAMSNAKE.

As for phones: car-portable telephones existed in the 1930s -- think Radio Patrol cop cars. Saddle-portable or somewhat smaller but still-bulky gear could easily inhabit Golden Age literature along with super-science earclips or implants. But again, writers a half-century back, projecting a century ahead, saw landlines. Well, I've got mine!

There were several stories I read back in my youth... a long time ago, way before cell phones, they had cell phones in them. And fanny packs, before there were fanny packs. And you carried you phone, in your pouch.